A Week of Prayer by Wm. Covert

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Dec 10, 1903

A Week of Prayer

By Wm. Covert

WM. COVERT

It is well for our people to set apart a whole week for prayer, because prayer is to the Christian both sword and shield. Shall we not constantly ask the Lord, during this week of prayer, to teach us how to pray, and to incline our hearts to love prayer more and more? On a certain occasion when Christ’s disciples had heard him pray, they asked him to teach them to pray. They had doubtless never heard another person pray whose prayer seemed to carry them into the very presence of the Lord as did the prayer of Jesus. His great concern for humanity was such that he could bear the interests of the whole world up to the throne of God. This burden of the world’s redemption rested upon his soul with a weight that sometimes caused him to continue all night in prayer. If it was necessary for Christ, our Saviour, to pray with such fervor and so long, is it not necessary for his people, with the great work which now rests upon them, to be found much in fervent prayer?

The Bible abounds with admonitions concerning much prayer, and records many remarkable answers to prayer. It also gives many wonderful promises to those who seek the Lord with the whole heart. If we shall learn during this week of prayer that Christ is yet the great Intercessor who only can make prayer effectual, it will be a great help to us in our prayers. Jesus not only prayed for us while he was a Man of sorrows, but he continues to pray since he has ascended to heaven. It is through the intercession of Christ, our High Priest, that the Holy Spirit is given to those who believe. Since his coronation, humanity has been highly favored on account of his service in the heavenly sanctuary.

It was remarked in John 7:39 that “the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.” In speaking of the greater blessings which were to come upon the believers after he would go to the Father, Jesus said, “It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” And again, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater

works than these shall he do, because I go unto my Father.” John 14:12. The only reason why greater works were to be done is told in the verse quoted,—“because I go unto my Father.”

Peter, on the day of Pentecost, referred to the fact that Christ had been exalted to a high position at the right hand of God, “and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” Acts 2:33. His glorified presence with the Father in heaven placed humanity through him on a higher plane than it had ever been before. He, the crucified One, became the glorified Son.

After his crucifixion and ascension to heaven, the great offering for sin which he had made was accepted by the heavenly court in behalf of humanity, and thus man was accepted in him. His chief work now is to “appear in the presence of God for us.” Heb. 9:24. “In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Col. 2:9, 10. It is only through him that we are accepted, or that we can pray. He is sponsor for us, and bears our requests to the Father. Our interest is his interest, and our work is his work. Truly we have become identified with him. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20.

Prayer is a most sacred communion with Christ and the Father in heaven. Think of how effective prayer may become to the people of God. When the early church had learned how to pray, and their interests had become identified with Christ in his work, they gave all their possessions as an offering to advance the cause of Christianity in the earth. Acts 2:45. What will Christ’s people do in the way of offerings now to assist in carrying the third angel’s message to all the world?